I'm looking for a decent, cheap and somewhat quick daily driver and Honda makes nothing that fits this bill (had an EP3, won't go there again). And no, I don't want to drive some 92 hatch with a swap because I must maintain some kind of professional image, so no suggestions like that, please.

So, my search has been narrowed to an SE-R Spec V. Anyone have any feedback on this car? It's just going to be a daily driver, so I could really care less about the sh!tty beam rear axle. The interior is decent for the price and the car is not the ugliest thing on the street, so that's good. The motor feels great and I do like the torque.

So, anybody heard anything really bad about these cars? I would be getting a brand new one, and I've heard stories about the 02 models being sketcky but that's been fixed for 04 (or so I've heard).

Plus, they are very reasonabily priced if you don't go nuts with the options. I doubt I'd get the Brembo package as it a $2000 option and the car won't see the track.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Todd00 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I'm looking for a decent, cheap and somewhat quick daily driver and Honda makes nothing that fits this bill (had an EP3, won't go there again).</TD></TR></TABLE>

just wondering what promped this comment about the ep3?

 

Are you looking to buy a New car?

Take a look at the Mazda 3/Mazda 6 - they're very nice cars, fun to drive too.

 

I drove the Mazda 3 at MRIU this year and was very impressed with the build quality and fun to drive quotient. Also priced very reasonably! If I was in the market for small/fun/commuter car that was also nice, Id give one of those a hard look.

 

whats the budget?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by .RJ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Are you looking to buy a New car?

Take a look at the Mazda 3/Mazda 6 - they're very nice cars, fun to drive too.</TD></TR></TABLE>
also from what i understood.. the mazda3 actually has more choice of options than the mazda6.. ie. HIDs, navigational system .....
I've heard many good things about the car.. but then I stumbled upon a review that Jeremy from Fifth Gear made of the car.. saying he didn't like it would be an understatement..

 

I HATE nissan.
I would rather you pick Honda, Toyota or Mazda.
I have not driven any of the new models but they all seem to get decent marks from all the magazines.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Bbasso &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I HATE nissan.</TD></TR></TABLE>

350Z owns!

 

the Mazda 3 with the good motor (2.3L) actually starts to get a little expensive. the Spec-V is dirt cheap for what you get really. it's much more of a boy-racer car, while the 3 will give you that "professional image."

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by sil &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I stumbled upon a review that Jeremy from Fifth Gear made of the car.. saying he didn't like it would be an understatement..</TD></TR></TABLE>

Compared to what, Porsches and other supercars that they test?

 

I was going to stop and look at the Mazdas tonight. The Spec V is nice because you can pick them up very, very cheap. $2000 rebate on the Nissan owns.

As long as you stay away from the goofy colors, I didn't think the spec V looked too bad. White or black would be my choice.

 

is the boy-racer image something you can deal with?

 

Scion TC

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by tnord &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">the Mazda 3 with the good motor (2.3L) actually starts to get a little expensive. the Spec-V is dirt cheap for what you get really. it's much more of a boy-racer car, while the 3 will give you that "professional image."</TD></TR></TABLE>

and you get what you pay for methinks.. a friend had one.. I thought the motor felt good(until some sort of reverse induction sucked catalyst from the cat into the motor and blew it), but that the interior was cheap.. I thought it would break if I pulled the door handle not gently enough.. honestly, if I was going to waste my money on the sentra, I'd just save myself the cash and get a lower trim level with the options I want.. that being said, there are plenty of other cars on the market - like the mazdas - that would fit your described need better..

the spec v doesn't strike me as a "professional" car any more than a civic hatchback..

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by .RJ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Compared to what, Porsches and other supercars that they test?</TD></TR></TABLE>
hehhee.. no, i think he tested during his stint of econobox testing.... maybe he was just getting real pissed of testing things &lt;100k in pricing....
i wouldnt mind getting the hatch of that thing.. is it just me or does the trunk look too high on the sedan?

 

~18.5 msrp for a Mazda3 5 door with HIDs... what's the SE-R? 16? Worth the extra IMO. I haven't touched a Scion TC yet but the Mazda3 drives sooo much better than the SE-R.

SE-R's get worse each generation IMO. The newest one is something I considered until I drove it. Couldn't stand it.

 

Look at sig.

Well, the times that I DID have it, it was fun. The car handles very well. HLSD ownz. The first year it came out, it was bumped up a class in AutoXing. Gearing is a little clunky, but you get used to it. 6th speed it nothing more than an overdrive. Torque....GOBS of torque...did I mention Torque? Gotta be careful in the rain and first gear. And SNOW....forget about it, unless you have all season radials on. It has great gas mileage, I was averaging 31 mpg on the highway.
Overall, it's a very fun car. Worth the money.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Todd00 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">So, my search has been narrowed to an SE-R Spec V. Anyone have any feedback on this car? It's just going to be a daily driver, so I could really care less about the sh!tty beam rear axle. The interior is decent for the price and the car is not the ugliest thing on the street, so that's good. The motor feels great and I do like the torque.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I think that about sums it up.

I have several employees who drive them, including for delivery.

They seem economical, reliable, and decently quick for the money.

 

Have you considered the Focus SVT? More fun to drive, and more practical (hatchback)... I think it's better looking as well.

Nissan is nice, torque is important in a daily driver - also comes with an ok limited slipp diff. I think it's too big to really be tossable and fun to drive like the ITR - SVT would be a more nimble car (better suspension design as well).

If you want torque, how bout an SRT-4 Neon?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by El Pollo Diablo &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">is the boy-racer image something you can deal with?

</TD></TR></TABLE>

The Nissan's virtually invisible on the street, isn't it?

The EP3 draws more bad attention than the ITR, recently.

But, then, I have two stores in Manassas.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by El Pollo Diablo &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">is the boy-racer image something you can deal with?

</TD></TR></TABLE>

That is a drawback, but it's not as bad as the 97 hatch I'm driving right now. I'd de-badge it more than likely.

 

or you could just get the SENTRA 2.5 S...it's like Spec V Light. Looks like a regular Sentra, but with the QR25 motor.

 

After driving the Mazda 3 in RevItUp...I really don't like the car too much.

No road feel, lousy throttle response, poor steering feedback, as tq-less as a Honda, sensitive brakes and easy understeering.

Must I be too used to my SM ITR?

How much you looking to spend anyway? A base RSX can't be too expensive...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JohnnySpecV &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">or you could just get the SENTRA 2.5 S...it's like Spec V Light. Looks like a regular Sentra, but with the QR25 motor.</TD></TR></TABLE>

exactly what I was getting at..

sorry to hate on your old car, john.. but you knew my opinion of it long ago..

 

I would not be caught dead in a Focus of any kind, even if they had 500hp. I just cringe when I see them because I think they have the ugliest rear ends of any car on the road right now.

I'll stop by and look at the Mazda 3 4 doors tonight. Not a fan of the 5 doors.